Global Politics

Residents of Greenland are voicing strong opposition to recent statements from the Trump administration  expressing interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, with many expressing fear and indignation over rhetoric that has escalated from purchase offers to hints of potential military action. The White House  has said it is "actively" discussing an offer to buy Greenland from Denmark , which has governed the territory for centuries. US President Donald Trump  and his officia

The political battle over Ghana's Gold-for-Reserves programme has intensified, with the opposition New Patriotic Party accusing President John Mahama's administration of mismanaging an initiative they claim to have created. In a fiery press briefing on Thursday, the Minority in Parliament alleged that the government's handling of the gold purchasing scheme has resulted in a staggering US$214 million loss  in just nine months, sparking what they've labeled a major economic sca

Northern Ireland's Finance Minister John O'Dowd  has published a draft multi-year budget covering 2026 to 2029/30, describing it as "a way forward" that could "transform public services"—but the plan has failed to secure agreement from other executive parties. The proposed budget, which would be the first multi-year spending plan agreed by Stormont in more than a decade, has sparked immediate criticism from opposition politicians and governing coalition partners who say it la

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung  has called for a "new phase" in bilateral relations during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping  in Beijing on Monday, marking the first visit by a South Korean head of state to China since 2019. The four-day trip comes as Lee attempts to navigate complex regional dynamics, balancing South Korea's security alliance with the United States against its substantial economic dependence on China. The visit signals potential warming in tie

President Donald Trump  has intensified calls for the United States to take control of Greenland, creating a diplomatic crisis with Denmark and raising fundamental questions about the future of the NATO alliance. Trump's demands, which he says are driven by national security concerns, have been firmly rejected by Greenland's leaders and Denmark, the European nation that has governed the Arctic territory for approximately 300 years. The dispute threatens to fracture one of Ame

Cuba confronts its most precarious position in decades following the US military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro  from power, threatening to cut off the island's crucial oil lifeline amid its worst economic crisis since the Cold War. The removal of Maduro—Venezuela's leader since 2013 and Cuba's closest ally—has left the communist-run Caribbean nation isolated and vulnerable. With 32 Cuban nationals  killed during the operation, including members of

Venezuelan security forces detained at least 14 journalists on Monday as they covered the political aftermath of former leader Nicolás Maduro's  seizure by US forces, highlighting the intensifying crackdown on press freedom in the crisis-hit South American nation. The detentions occurred on the same day Delcy Rodríguez  was sworn in as interim president, marking a dramatic shift in Venezuela's leadership following Maduro's capture in a pre-dawn raid by American forces. The un

President Donald Trump  says American oil companies could be "up and running" in Venezuela within 18 months, following a controversial US military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro  from power. Trump's ambitious timeline has drawn skepticism from energy analysts who previously told the BBC that restoring Venezuela's oil production could require tens of billions of dollars and potentially take a decade. The announcement signals the Trump administration's clear ec

Doug LaMalfa , a Republican Congressman from California, has died unexpectedly at age 65, further thinning the Republican Party's already narrow control of the US House of Representatives. The announcement came on Tuesday, with colleagues and President Donald Trump offering tributes to the veteran lawmaker who had served in Congress since 2013. LaMalfa's cause of death has not been disclosed. President Trump expressed deep sorrow at the loss, describing LaMalfa as "a great, g

A devastating drone attack on a residential home in Sudan has claimed at least 13 lives, including eight children, in what medical professionals are calling a "dangerous escalation" of the country's brutal civil war. The Monday strike targeted a house in el-Obeid, a strategic city caught in the crossfire between Sudan's military and rebel forces, leaving most of one family dead and highlighting the mounting civilian toll in what the United Nations has described as the world's

President Volodymyr Zelensky  has made another significant change to Ukraine's security apparatus, removing the influential head of the country's Security Service (SBU) and replacing him with a battlefield-tested general. The move has sparked intense debate within Ukraine's military and political circles, with some viewing it as a risky decision during a critical phase of the war with Russia. Zelensky announced the dismissal of Vasyl Malyuk , who had led the SBU since 2022, a

Picture this: You step outside Monday morning, ready to return to work after the festive break, only to find your car buried under snow, roads transformed into skating rinks, and trains canceled due to drifts taller than most adults. This is the reality facing millions across the United Kingdom as severe winter weather threatens major travel disruption. The Met Office , Britain's national weather service, has issued urgent warnings for snow and ice across most of the country

Ghana has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the United States' military operation in Venezuela, describing it as an "unilateral and unauthorised invasion" that violates international law and calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro  and his wife Cilia Flores . In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Ghanaian government expressed "deep concern" about the military action that occurred in

Iran's foreign minister has condemned US President Donald Trump's  threat to intervene if peaceful protesters are killed, calling the warning "reckless and dangerous" as demonstrations over the country's economic crisis enter their second week with at least eight deaths  reported. Abbas Araghchi  responded sharply after Trump declared on social media that Washington "will come to their rescue" if Iran violently suppresses demonstrators, adding that the US is "locked and loade

A Russian missile attack  on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv  killed two people, including a three-year-old child, and injured approximately 28 others  on Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities, in a deadly strike that came just one day before crucial peace negotiations are scheduled to begin in Kyiv. The dual missile attack almost completely destroyed a multi-storey residential apartment building in Ukraine's second-largest city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky  con

US President Donald Trump  brushed aside concerns about China's large-scale military exercises  surrounding Taiwan, expressing confidence in his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping  even as Beijing conducted its most extensive show of force in the region in recent months. Speaking at a press conference Monday, Trump dismissed worries about the drills that involved 130 Chinese military aircraft  and more than a dozen naval vessels encircling the self-governed island th

More than 40 countries representing nearly one-fifth of the global population will hold critical elections in 2026, with outcomes that could reshape international alliances, economic policies, and democratic governance across continents. From Bangladesh's  post-uprising vote in February to the United States midterm elections  in November, approximately 1.6 billion people  will participate in national-level elections this year. These contests—including general, presidential, a

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky  has named his military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov  as the new head of his presidential office, signaling a dramatic shift toward security priorities as the nation navigates both ongoing war with Russia and a damaging corruption scandal that has shaken his administration. The appointment, announced Friday, comes just over a month after Zelensky's previous chief of staff resigned following a raid by anti-corruption agencies. The mo

The international community has responded with sharply divided reactions following a large-scale US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro  and his wife from the country on Saturday. World leaders from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and beyond have issued statements ranging from cautious support to outright condemnation of the unprecedented military action. The operation has reignited debates about sovereignty, inter

Russia has alleged that Ukraine killed at least 27 people in a drone attack on a New Year's celebration at a hotel and cafe in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the contested territory, as diplomatic efforts to end the war are reportedly near completion. The accusation, made on Friday by Russian-installed regional governor Vladimir Saldo , claims the strike injured more than 30 additional people at a gathering in the village of Kh